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1. foldr+(OP)[view] [source] 2025-08-15 10:47:26
>Few years back when they made it so that every ISP had to log your entire browsing history and keep it for a year

This is a significant exaggeration in two respects.

First, SSL ensures that ISPs cannot log your literal browser history. They can log which domains you visit, how often you visit them, how much data was transferred, etc. etc.

Second, the law requires ISPs to be able to retain this data on a specific individual for up to a year if specifically ordered to by the Home Secretary. So it is not the case the ISPs in general are all recording this information for all of their customers. From their point of view they have no interest in doing so. I suspect that ISPs would in fact lack the capacity to store all of this data for all of their customers all of the time.

I don't support the IPA because I don't think the Home Secretary should be able to directly order surveillance of specific individuals. However, I don't think it is necessary to exaggerate the scope of the legislation in order to make a case against it.

replies(2): >>skeezy+h3 >>octo88+qK1
2. skeezy+h3[view] [source] 2025-08-15 11:22:15
>>foldr+(OP)
> First, SSL ensures that ISPs cannot log your literal browser history.

unless im speaking to a 90 year old, nobody thinks browser history means offline copies of the page

replies(1): >>foldr+w3
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3. foldr+w3[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-08-15 11:24:12
>>skeezy+h3
The point is that they don’t see the URLs you visit, only the domains.
replies(1): >>skeezy+Lz
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4. skeezy+Lz[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-08-15 14:35:53
>>foldr+w3
are you sure about that? ive read its meta-info but didnt see that particular caveat
replies(1): >>foldr+LE
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5. foldr+LE[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-08-15 15:00:09
>>skeezy+Lz
The URL is sent over the E2E encrypted connection. How do you suppose the ISP would be able to see it? Maybe three letter agencies have back doors into this kind of stuff, but your ISP doesn’t.
6. octo88+qK1[view] [source] 2025-08-15 21:29:31
>>foldr+(OP)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/11/internet-provi...

> Two internet providers are tracking and collecting the websites visited by their customers as part of a secretive Home Office trial, designed to work out if a national bulk surveillance system would be useful for national security and law enforcement.

> Home Office sources indicated that it was taking advantage of abilities in the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, to test what data can be acquired, how useful it is in practice, and how it might be used in investigations.

replies(1): >>foldr+sl3
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7. foldr+sl3[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-08-16 14:13:11
>>octo88+qK1
Again, this refers to the domains, not the full URL. As a factual point, ISPs do not retain full browser history, and the IPA does not require them to do so for all customers all the time. It's true that we do not know how much data ISPs are in fact recording. I agree that this is concerning. I am opposed to the IPA. However, I also think that we should take the time to get the facts exactly right when criticizing it. This is understandably an emotive issue for a lot of folks on HN, and there is a tendency to let factual inaccuracies slide if they are part of an argument against internet surveillance. In my opinion the IPA is bad enough as is, and it is not necessary to exaggerate its effects in order to make a strong case against it.
replies(1): >>octo88+nl5
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8. octo88+nl5[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-08-17 13:05:22
>>foldr+sl3
All this is a bit moot and a distraction when we know Tempora, Karma Police etc exist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010s_global_surveillance_disc...

replies(1): >>foldr+W16
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9. foldr+W16[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-08-17 18:54:15
>>octo88+nl5
I am just correcting some possible misconceptions about what UK ISPs are required to do by law. If you are worried about surveillance by intelligence agencies, then you might be right to be worried, but that's a separate issue.
replies(1): >>octo88+5aa
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10. octo88+5aa[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-08-19 09:31:12
>>foldr+W16
> If you are worried about surveillance by intelligence agencies, then you might be right to be worried, but that's a separate issue.

A childish and pathetic comment

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